The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-23
STORY OF A SHIPwREcK.
How Jack, the "Bravc," Rescued the Gre,
of His Fathers Ship--HIs Reward.

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!. of His Fathers ship--His Reward.
On the shore of certain State alon
{, the Atlantic coast, and in a spot whel
rocky capes abound, there lived a fan
lily of apparently low birth. The nam
, was Henderson,
, The father was seafaring man. an
spent most of his time in cruisin
among the Southern seas, and it WI,
not often that lie visited his home, e,
cept when his course happened to Ii
along that coast. The son, tall, well
built, handsome lad of eighteen, wa
the pride of the old mans heart, an,
we may also say the main support o
the family, as he exchanged the pro
duets of the sea for those of the fertil
fields of the ncighboring villages.
This individuals name was Jack, or
rs he was called, 1.-The Brave" name
as we shall see later on in the story. O
which he was not ut all unworthy
Jack had two sisters, beautiful girls o.
twelve and sixteen. The above named
including the poor mother and faith
full old servant, comprised the Hcndcr
son family.
The house in which they lived was
as it seemed. the cabin of some shir
which had pcrishcd on that dangerous
shore. The outside of this strange
abode was rough and dcsolatc, but all
within was solid comfort, and even
showed signs of skill on the part of the
two maidens who had the duty OF
housekeeping to perform, their mother
being too old to give tile proper atten-
ton.
The cabin was wedged in between
two large rocks, so rs to make it proof
against the iicrcest gale and also to
protect it from the tides. In front there
was rude wharf constructed of pine
trees lashed together with the fibre of
some plant which grew in the neighbor-
hood. One looking at this wharf could
see mt first sight that Jack Sour hero
idle moments had not been wasted.
On either side was large coil of rope
fastened down by iron clamps. In the
center there was stack of life pre-
servers made of straw and the bark of
some tropical tree, which his father
had gathered in his wandcrings. In
front there was a flash-light erected for
the purpose of warning passing ships
against the dangers of that coast; while
l. the water, and fastened to the wharf
by strong cords attached to iron spikes,
there fioatcd several skiffs. each having
"a pretty and appropriate name.
In fact, on that little wharf YOU
would have seen complete lifc-saving
apparatus This was Jacks pride, and
well it might be; for by that inanimate
coil of rope, assisted by his brawny
arm, many a life had been saved and
many blessings called down upon that
noble lad.
The time at which the present narra-
tive begins was during the month of
September, and ut time when the
mighty deep was disturbed by storms
of the fiercest kind. The smoke curlcd
up from the chimney of the little cabin,
for the wind had set in, driving all idle
strollers into their homes.
1t was on one of these cold, bleak
mornings that Jack Henderson rose
from an uneasy sleep; for the wind had
been blowing Il gale, and even now. as
he stood facing seaward, he could see the
white foam dash against the projecting
rocks and then rise into mountains of
spray.
Tho air was cold and foggy, and the
dark clouds were driven swiftly along
their course; in fact, il was such day
as caused all labor to be suspended,
and Jack had n forcboding that some-
thing wrong was about to turn up.
Consequently, after seeing that all his
things were in order, he assembled into
the highest window, glass in hand, to
watch.
Several hours passed in this way,
during which the rain fell in torrents
and the turbulent sea seemed rs If it
were troubled by some supernatural
force.
At length the clouds began to break,
and a faint gleam Of light peercd
through the aperture. Jack placed the
glass to his eyes and gazcd long and
steadily, when, all Of a sudden, he
rushed out upon the wharf with wild
cry. calling to his eldest sister. Emily,
to follow him. At no great distance
from the shore and heading straight
into the rocks, he could SEQ his fathers
ship-the Albatross.
No sooner did his sister understand
tho situation than shc was by her
brothers side, helping TO unfnstcn the
ropes and put them into one of the
largest skiils. When all things of any
use were put into tho boat, tho girl
taking tho stern and Jack the oars,
they pushed Off
They had not advanced twenty yards
before they We're almost struck dumb
by seeing the ship rise on one of those
mountains of water and come down
with Il crash upon ono of the rocks. and
there lay helpless wreck. To APP
proach nearer than ono hundred feet
from the ship would be madness, and
so Jack had to invent some other mode
of rcscung tho poor wrctches who were
clinging to the masts, calling on God
for mercy. Pulling the boat with re-
doubled effort, he brought It as close to
the ship rs was prudent. and then set
allOut nxnminfnU his rnnas Rx tvino